noun
Ste·nog·ra·pher
-
a person whose job is to transcribe speech in shorthand.
"a court stenographer"
A stenographer creates exact written records using a special writing style on a steno machine. This unique method is syllable-based, unlike the letter-by-letter approach of a regular keyboard. With this efficient style and distinct layout, stenographers, often called court reporters, achieve an average typing speed of over 200 words per minute. Remarkably, some court reporters type at speeds exceeding 250 words per minute with high accuracy.
WE / HRUF / STO*EPB
WE LOVE STENO
How Stenography works:
The fingers of the left hand spell out the beginning of a syllable, the thumbs type the vowel, and the fingers of the right hand end the syllable. Single keys can be pressed, but keys are commonly pressed down in groups -- like chords on a piano!
TYPING WONT CUT IT.
STENO WAS
DESIGNED FOR SPEED!
Instead of typing every individual letter or word, stenographers use a phonetic-based writing system. They convert the sounds of words and phrases into keystrokes on the stenotype machine. This technique enables them to capture spoken words quickly and efficiently.
Average typist = 40 - 60 WPM
FAST typist = 80 - 120 WPM *for a short period of time
Average English speaker = 180 - 250 WPM
FAST English speaker = 200 - 350 WPM
Professional Certified Stenographer = 225 - 360 WPM
An entire word (and even a phrase) can be written out on this shorthand machine in one or two strokes.
So instead of using the QWERTY keyboard and writing the word “hello” by pressing 5 individual keys (h-e-l-l-o), this same word can be written out in just two strokes in steno: /HEL/OE
It’s all about phonetics and pressing certain keys down together simultaneously to make a word.
STENO IS EVERYWHERE
Court + Deposition Reporters
Court reporters, also known as guardians of the record because of their impartiality and role within the judicial process, capture the words spoken by everyone during a court or deposition proceeding. Court reporters then prepare verbatim transcripts of proceedings.
Live captioning
Those live captions that you see on TV? (that people tend to make fun of about being inaccurate because a word or two is misspelled?) The captions are actually really accurate; 98% accurate most the time (that’s only two errors per every 100 words spoken). Most people tend to get caught up on the funny mistakes only.
Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART)
Deaf or hard-of-hearing students may need the assistance of a stenographer (CART provider) to help them succeed in school by providing instant transcription of what is being said in a classroom or meeting. Some stenographers who CART for an entire course sometimes receive an honourary degree for doing so!
